TO Needs a Time Out

Terrell Owens is upset he isn’t getting the ball. That’s news? He’s always ticked off about the lack of leather ever since he soared to stardom in San Francisco. It has become news for two reasons.

First, NFL.com and NFL Network are shamelessly promoting Owens’s interview with former 49er Deion Sanders on NFL Network Sunday morning. Secondly, the Cowboys offense has deflated in the last four games. But that has much more to do with the broken pinkie on quarterback Tony Romo’s passing hand than Owens’s lack of opportunities.

Nevertheless, Owens told Sanders that defenses have caught up with Dallas coordinator Jason Garrett’s offense. It’s typical Owens behavior and reminds me of when he first started to berate players and coaches for not getting him the ball in the late 1990’s.

I remember former Steve Mariucci invited the press corps up to his office where he put on the coach’s tape. He showed how passing lanes were clogged, or how quarterback Jeff Garcia was pressured just when Owens broke open. Mariucci intimated that Owens simply didn’t understand other factors that prevented him from getting passes.

Now the Cowboys are going through a similar circumstance with Owens one decade later. Should we be surprised? More importantly should it be news? NFL Network has showed clips of Owens complaining about his work problems in his tony Dallas penthouse. Wonder what U.S. auto workers might think of Owens’s belly-aching about a job which pays him millions and provides with ample vacation time in the offseason?

From a 49ers’ fan point of view, Owens’s constant harping could become corrosive.

Owens has always been a terrific teammate when his team was winning. He can be an opposing force when things go poorly.

So what do the 49ers need to do to upset the Dallas Cowboys? Frustrate Owens early would be the best course. Much like his time with the 49ers, the Cowboys try to get him the ball early, even if it means handing it to him on reverses and end arounds.

Expect Nate Clements to be in his jersey with safety help over the top to start the game. Owens’s performance in the first three or four series could be crucial. If he gets the ball and has success, everything could open up for a Cowboys offense that’s still richly talented.

If Owens goes off, that means the Cowboys will run more to his side because the safety will be back to ward against the deep play. Also, Romo will likely have openings to receivers such as Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin on the other side of the formation to say nothing of tight end Jason Whitten. Romo seems inconsistent with the deep pass because of the shattered digit, but he can throw it well enough to keep a safety back.

If the 49ers keep both safeties back, watch for Dallas to attack the edges with Marion Barber, which is what he did last week in Washington. They run an unusual toss sweep, often to the short side of the field with the tackle instead of the guard pulling.

Offensively, the 49ers should attack where the Cowboys are most vulnerable and that’s their linebackers. Zach Thomas has always been undersized and now he’s a step slow. He’s already been removed from the Cowboys’ nickel package and that’s why the 49ers should stay with their two tight-end or base personnel and then just take hacks at Thomas.

The 49ers might even want to isolate rookie Chilo Rachal on Thomas most of the day. Singletary said they were leaning toward starting Rachal over Tony Wragge at right guard.